tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197139863491126182.post3100950943681000934..comments2023-03-30T18:05:05.683-07:00Comments on Grand Rouleur: No rain for SolitudeAndy H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00700318887776373432noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197139863491126182.post-4590608638917590372008-07-25T21:25:00.000-07:002008-07-25T21:25:00.000-07:00"Aluminum is guaranteed to fail"? The same could b..."Aluminum is guaranteed to fail"? The same could be said of any material. Are you saying carbon fiber composite will outlast aircraft aluminum? Show me the data. Plenty of old aluminum airplanes flying around.<BR/><BR/>I contend that the expected life span of an aluminum frame is long enough. And when aluminum fails it often gives some warning (a crack or creaking noise), but carbon requires careful visual inspection and even then it can fail unexpectedly. Not 100% with either, but I like the aluminum odds better.<BR/><BR/>Carbon is not strong in compression. Seat tubes and handlebars need to be carefully torqued or the composite gets crushed and weakened dramatically. Not very robust and dicey for field adjustment.<BR/><BR/>I've personally seen 3 sheared off carbon seat tubes and 2 handlebars. From my observation there have been many more carbon failures than aluminum.<BR/><BR/>A agree that carbon is largely a bling factor. It has it's place. But remember that companies will offer anything that will sell, regardless if it's really any better or not. Caveat emptor.KanyonKrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954169751206336705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197139863491126182.post-47183290586395728282008-07-25T07:31:00.000-07:002008-07-25T07:31:00.000-07:00I've never had any problems with my carbon bits wh...I've never had any problems with my carbon bits while I've broken two aluminum frames and multiple aluminum parts. I think carbon failures get more press b/c people expect it to fail. The thing that intrigues me about carbon wheels is the lateral stiffness factor. Of course I'll never be able to afford them but one can dream.Andy H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00700318887776373432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197139863491126182.post-79377731390667441692008-07-23T15:01:00.000-07:002008-07-23T15:01:00.000-07:00AL is guranteed to fail. Some time, somewhere, pro...AL is guranteed to fail. Some time, somewhere, probably catastrophically.<BR/><BR/>If you follw the seat post/ handlebar rules of, replace it when dinged or crashed, you should be ok.<BR/><BR/>Plus modern carbon is put together much better.<BR/><BR/>Everything will break, given the right conditions, But AL has a guaranteed failure.<BR/><BR/>FUnny thing about most carbon parts, they are no lighter and sometimes heavier than their aluminum siblings.<BR/><BR/>Mostly Bling. The Thomas AL seatpost is lighter than any carbon MTB seatpost I have seen.StupidBikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12994994198022740179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5197139863491126182.post-19119884805921392192008-07-23T14:44:00.000-07:002008-07-23T14:44:00.000-07:00Might be good for the serious racer swimming in $$...Might be good for the serious racer swimming in $$$. Rocks and carbon don't mix so well. In fact, for mountain bikes I favor no carbon. I've seen too many broken carbon seatposts and handlebars. In metal I trust.KanyonKrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954169751206336705noreply@blogger.com